Paper 1: Section B.
First World War.

(for an example question click here)

Reliable means 'can it be trusted?'

REMEMBER W. O. K.

Whether we trust something is affected by

THE Ws
(who, what, when, where, why, who for)
eg motive affects how reliable something is.

NB If it helps you can think of this as PURPOSE, ORIGIN, NATURE, DATE AND AUDIENCE.
PONDA

We have to
CHECK
its information against our
OWN KNOWLEDGE

to find out whether it is reliable.

§ Does it miss anything out?

§ Does it add anything in?

§ Is it a composite image (ie lots of ideas put together for propaganda purposes?)


Begin with a clear answer to the question = A JUDGEMENT.

Rather than just vaguely saying a source is biased you can say

we need to treat it with caution or
it is ONE SIDED
.

NEVER REJECT SOMETHING AS TOTALLY USELESS.